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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 19 Dec 2019, 13:46
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VeritasKarishma
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion.

(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism.

SOURCE: OG18 Q160

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Official Guide Verbal Review 2017 did modify the question from the following post. (Book Question: 164)

https://gmatclub.com/forum/aroca-city-c ... 57407.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-official ... 25020.html

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. - Current situation. Sets the context.

In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. - New Plan discussed in the argument. We finally find out that the argument supports the plan.

Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. - Criticism of the new plan.

The critics are correct on this point. - Submission to the critics of the new plan.

Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. - Supporting the new plan. Conclusion of the argument.

Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially. - Premises for supporting the new plan (supporting the conclusion of the argument)

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion.

First presents the plan that the argument concludes is LIKELY to achieve its goal. Hence this option is incorrect.

(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion.

First presents the plan that the argument concludes is LIKELY to achieve its goal. Hence this option is incorrect.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention.

The argument does not contend that the new plan is the BEST option available. Hence this option is incorrect.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

Correct. The argument is discussing a consequence (will it reduce money available for schools?) of the new plan. The first provides the plan. The second is the argument's conclusion about that consequence.

(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism.

The second is not a criticism against the plan. It supports the plan.
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VeritasKarishma
Hello mam,
I'm going to make attention to the highlighted part.

Quote:
The critics are correct on this point. - Submission to the critics of the new plan.
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Q1:
Do you think that THIS part is ''conclusion''?

Q1:
If we change the word ''unlikely'' to ''likely'' in choice A and B, then is there any chance to make the choice either A or B legit for this CR?
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 19 Dec 2019, 14:32
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Would anyone please take a deep dive into option D?

What do "CONSEQUENCE" & "issue in the argument" mean here?

In my opinion, CONSEQUENCE= what will happen if the new plan is taken &
Issue in the argument= main talking point or mainly discussed issue in the argument.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert Updated on: 19 Dec 2019, 15:24
Originally posted by BelalHossain046 on 19 Dec 2019, 15:13.
Last edited by BelalHossain046 on 19 Dec 2019, 15:24, edited 1 time in total.
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Goal: To arrange required amount of money for public schools
Existing plan to arrange the money for public schools: imposing taxes on property
New plan to arrange the money for public schools: three percent tax on ALL retail sales in the city (First Bold face)
Critics: Money raised through three percent tax on CURRENT retail sales in the city will be less than the money raised through property tax.
[For example, assume money raised through existing plan i.e. property tax= $40 and CURRENT SALES=$1000. So, 3% of $1000=$30 which is less than money raised through existing plan- property tax (i.e. $40)]
Author: I admit that the amount of tax collected on the basis of current sales is smaller than money raised through property tax. However, since total sales amount in this city is going to increase substantially, 3% sales tax will collect sufficient fund for the public schools (SECOND BOLD FACE).

[From previous example, CURRENT SALES=$1000 and if the sales amount increases to $ 1500 in near future. So, 3% of $1500=$45 which is higher than money raised through existing plan-property tax (i.e. $40)]. i.e. the money raised through sales tax will be sufficient for funding the public the public schools]

In the last few lines the author said how the sales in the city will increase substantially (a large number of shoppers from neighboring municipalities will come to this city for shopping at lower sales tax).

First bold face: The new plan (3% sales tax) to arrange money for public schools in the city.
Second boldface: The author's opinion (3% sales tax will collect sufficient fund for the public schools)
Option D.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 19 Dec 2019, 15:23
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A little math (though I believe we should NOT do maths in CR)

Money raised through existing plan i.e. property tax= $40
CURRENT SALES=$1000.
So, three percent sales tax (3% of $1000) is $30 which is less than money raised through existing plan- property tax (i.e. $40)]

if the sales amount increases to $ 1500 in near future (because it is highly probable that people from near municipalities will come in this city for shopping at lower tax rate),
sales tax (3% of $1500) will be $45 which is higher than money raised through existing plan-property tax (i.e. $40)]. i.e. the money raised through sales tax will be sufficient for funding the public the public schools]

What author said: the critics opinion is true on the basis of CURRENT sales. But, in consideration with ALL sales (including future prospects), the money raised through sales tax will be sufficient for funding the public the public schools.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 04 Mar 2021, 05:38
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EducationAisle in (D) we have "the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence." According to me the second BF is the conclusion of the argument, how is it the conclusion of the consequence
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 04 Mar 2021, 06:55
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Hoozan
EducationAisle in (D) we have "the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence." According to me the second BF is the conclusion of the argument, how is it the conclusion of the consequence
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(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument:

Plan: In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city.
Consequence: 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes

Argument’s conclusion about that consequence: Implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 27 Dec 2021, 09:05
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Official Explanation

Argument Evaluation

Situation Aroca City plans to switch the source of its public school funding from property taxes to a new local sales tax.

Reasoning What argumentative roles do the two portions in boldface play in the passage? The first boldface portion simply describes the city's plan. The next two sentences in the passage describe an observation some critics have made in objecting to the plan and say that the observation is correct. But then the second boldface portion rejects the critics' implicit conclusion that the plan will reduce school funding. The final two sentences in the passage present reasons to accept the statement in the second boldface portion, so they are premises supporting it as a conclusion.

Correct - D. The plan's likely effect on the amount of school funding is at issue in the argument, whose conclusion is that the plan probably will not reduce that funding.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert Updated on: 28 Feb 2022, 07:04
Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 27 Feb 2022, 19:57.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 28 Feb 2022, 07:04, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi IanStewart MartyTargetTestPrep - in the world of CR - what does the word ' contention ' mean ? I notice that word was used in option C. Does it mean - overall argument or just the conclusion only ?

I think 'contention' refers to the conclusion ONLY becuase if I look up the word under Miriam Websters, 'Contention' is equivalent to stating your opinion

AND I know 'opinions' are claims / conclusions ONLY.

Curious on your thoughts ?
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 27 Feb 2022, 20:12
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BillyZ
Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
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Question on the blue vs the pink - who is making this conclusion in the blue -- is it the author ? Per my understanding, yes

I find that strange because the same author, then makes another conclusion in the pink -- 180 degrees opposite to the conclusion he just made in the blue.

This is when i start panacking and i start losing confidence to do this question --- How can the same author make 2 conclusions (blue vs the pink) -- that are diagonally opposite to each other ?

Do these first 2 conclusions (blue vs pink) mean that the author agrees that PRESENTLY, 3 % of CURRENT retail sales is LESS than the amount raised by property taxes BUT IN THE FUTURE, for some reason - implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 28 Feb 2022, 01:23
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jabhatta2
Your analysis at the end is exactly correct, and that's why it's important to acknowledge that the author is in no way producing contradictory conclusions. The author is saying "You're right; 3% of current sales would not be enough money. But don't worry, because sales are likely to go up enough that 3% will provide enough money." This is a standard way to argue: "You're right about X. But you're wrong about the larger issue, and here's why."
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 28 Feb 2022, 08:23
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A "contention" is a "claim" -- it's not an argument, and it's not even a conclusion, at least the way we think of a conclusion in the GMAT CR universe, because a conclusion needs to be supported by some kind of evidence and argument (weak or strong). A "contention" doesn't need any justification.

jabhatta2

This is when i start panacking and i start losing confidence to do this question --- How can the same author make 2 conclusions (blue vs the pink) -- that are diagonally opposite to each other ?
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The author can't say two contradictory things, so if you think the author does, then you're missing something. This is going to happen a lot in CR, because in every "resolve the paradox" question, you'll be presented with information that appears to be contradictory somehow. Figuring out why two seemingly contradictory statements are not, in fact, contradictory, is usually the key to any such question, and often you'll need to read the question carefully to work out how to resolve an apparent contradiction. Here if you skim the passage and miss one key word, you'll miss the entire point of the argument: the critics say that 3% "of current retail sales" won't provide enough money. But we care about future retail sales, because it's to future sales that the tax will be applied, and we learn at the end of the passage that "retail sales are bound to increase substantially". So there is no contradiction.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 19 Feb 2023, 02:00
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KarishmaB

IanStewart

Can you please help to understand the meaning of BF1 in option E?

(E) The first presents a plan that the "argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism"; the second is that criticism.

According to E, the plan is against the criticism or supporting the criticism. I am not able to comprehend "plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism"

Thank you for your help :)
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 19 Feb 2023, 08:10
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Sneha2021

Can you please help to understand the meaning of BF1 in option E?

(E) The first presents a plan that the "argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism"; the second is that criticism.

According to E, the plan is against the criticism or supporting the criticism. I am not able to comprehend "plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism"
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Answer E is half right here -- the BF1 part is correct. Answer E is only wrong because it incorrectly describes BF2. If you look at the highlighting below:

- in red I've highlighted the "plan" mentioned in answer E
- in blue I've highlighted the "criticism" of the plan mentioned in answer E
- in green I've highlighted the argument's "defense" of the plan, against the criticism (and the remaining sentences provide the reasoning)

So the argument does "defend against" the (blue) criticism of the (red) plan, in the green passage, so the first half of answer E is correct. But the second part of answer E, which reads "the second [boldfaced phrase] is that criticism", is not correct -- the criticism is the blue part, not the boldfaced green part.

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially.
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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert 05 Aug 2025, 21:56
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